Updates on Cable

 Amanda, Heather, Mary and Cable continue to train and practice in public venues.   Tomorrow they will visit a restaurant again, to acclimatize Cable to a busy place with lots of distractions to see and smell.  Cable will be expected to ignore the distractions and remain calmly out of the way, able to see her handler and pay attention to any signs that she is needed.  This is a big job and takes lots of patience, practice and repetition.

Cable and Kira at Ruffsport.

Cable and Luna at Ruffsport.

Cable takes her learning very seriously.

Here are some photos of what Kira, Cable and Mandy have been up to!

Cable is learning to walk and attend to Mandy.

Kira still has a playful spirit, but she is tired and ready to retire.  

Learning to squeeze into tight areas.

Poor Kira had a hematoma on her ear last week and had an unexpected trip to the vet. She is doing well on antibiotics and will revisit Animal Hospital of Oak Ridges later this week.

Amanda, Kira and Cable thank you for your continued support!

Another Big Wheel Winner!

Kira enjoys visiting Yappy Hour at the Market Brewery. This event is hosted by York Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking on the first Wednesday of each month except January, March and September. At the November event Amanda and Kira were able to present one of the Big Wheel Spin prizes to Janice Collard of Wagz Wear dog accessories. Janice won two stools hand-painted by Brian Dunn of Dunn Reimagined Furniture.

The Big Wheel Spin may be returning soon. For fun and an opportunity to further support a fund for Cable's food, veterinary bills and ongoing training and classes, stay tuned for information about the the Big Wheel in the future! Great prizes to be won! 

 On Nov.2 it was Heather MacLeod's birthday. Cable seems to be asking her trainer for "cake please!"

Cable begins her service dog in training sessions!

Cable's First Outing as a Service Dog In Training

Last week Cable and Mandy had their first outing with trainers Heather and Mary.  They visited Kelsey's where Cable was a rock star, staying neatly under the table and out of the way during the meal.

 

Cable and Kira

Thanks to Cable's trainers, Mary and Heather.

Let the fun begin!

 

 

 Amanda's current service dog, Kira, is learning to work with Amanda at her volunteer job at the New Roads Theatre in Newmarket.  Both Amanda and Kira are loving their time at the the theatre!

Cable is continuing her training after recovering from being spayed.  What a cutie!

Thanks for continuing to follow Cable's blogposts!  Our fundraising continues as we work towards covering medical bills and grooming costs.  Cable thanks you for your support.  Please share our posts with your friends!

Cable, looking good!

 While I was at Princess Margaret, Heather Macleod, (our wonderful trainer) snapped a few pictures of Cable .  I would love to share them with you!

Cable with her Trainer, Heather!

Our Cable

 

We are so pleased with how hard Cable continues to work with her trainer, Heather MacLeod, at Ruffsport.

She does well with all basic commands and knows some specific seizure response tasks that will assist Amanda in her daily life.  Some of her solid commands are:

"Under": necessary in restaurants, office settings, school, etc. to ensure Cable is out of the way.

"Stay":   an important command to ensure Cable stays by Amanda's  side regardless of distractions such as squirrels, birds or playing children.

"Leave it",     "Fetch it up",     "Pull",    "Left about,"    "brace"

December Catch-up!

  I'm happy to be back using a good day during treatment to write to you about Cable and her journey.

Just before my cancer diagnosis, Amanda and I, with the help of our friend Brent Morning and many York Region business owners who donated prizes, had set up some fundraisers to help build funds for Cable's training.

It was more challenging to run the fundraisers while I was ill, but we were lucky to have very kind participants.

The Winter Walk for Happy Tails was a two-part event.

The first event was a walk where people registered themselves and their dog to go on a walk with the registration fees going towards Cable's training.

Diane Hawkins and Robynn Nishio organized a "Dog Lovers' Walk for Happy Tails" after reading the article about Amanda's efforts to raise funds to train Cable, Amanda's future seizure-response dog.  

The group met on a Saturday morning in front of Town Hall and had a lovely walk around Fairy Lake.  This group raised and donated over $400 for Cable's training!  Many thanks for a wonderful walk around the lake~ and the weather cooperated beautifully!

In other fundraising news, we are happy to announce that we made over $ 400 on our Big Wheel Spin for the Serenity Table created by Dun Designs Reimagined, $75 on our Big Wheel Spins for the beautiful hand-hand-painted stools created by Dunn Designs Reimagined,$40 on the Paws Wreath created by Gill Conner of Pet Lovers Gifts. As well, we made donations of $40 on the certificate for the Goulash House $90 on the Wine Gift Basket and $10 on the Gnome  More Big Wheel draws occurred during December:  A beautiful bag of gift products from Natural Solutions was available for $10 on the wheel!

If you are thinking you missed out on some serious fun, not to worry!  The big wheel will return in the spring to offer you chances to win some great prizes, including a beautiful watercolour painting by Nancy Newman, and more wonderful prizes.  Stay tuned!!

                                                Cable, exercising in the woods.

                                                Cable and Pink having fun in the forest.

Winter Walk for Happy Tails had two parts to it:  the walk itself, and an opportunity to or submit their dog's photo in one of three categories to vie for a prize in this contest.  

And the winners are:

Tucker on a boat!  Tucker's picture was chosen for the "Most unusual setting "  category.   We hope he and his handlers, Melanie, Samantha and Rob Shaver, enjoyed their prizes donated by Good Vibes, on Main Street in Newmarket.

Sadie's photo was chosen for the dog walking the longest distance.  Sadie is seen here at Joker's Hill during her long walk choosing the longest stick she could carry!  Sadie enjoyed her walk with handler Ann Gratton.

Finally, Galaxy was chosen as "prettiest dog".  She is seen here with Robynn Nishio.  Check Robynn's jacket for the carefully camouflaged "Spot", hitching a ride. Great fun was had by all.

An amazing fundraising campaign was launched by Carol Sheardown while I was hospitalized, and I would be remiss if I didn't point out how thrilled we are that she managed to put our goal over the top!  Thank  you Carol for all you've done!

        A belated "Merry Christmas" from Cable!! She continues to work hard on her tasks to become Amanda's next seizure-response dog.  Thank you all for your wonderful support!